LAKETON TOWNSHIP, MI – Richard Mullally is making a big first step in an exhaustive effort that he's not likely to finish – chronicling the service of Muskegon County's World War II veterans.

Five years after he started it as a free service, he's chronicled some 3,000 veterans – a fraction some 20,000 veterans he says would qualify for his project.

"There's probably a thousand I've never heard of," he said.

In order to be eligible for a tribute, the World War II veteran must have served in the military sometime between December 7, 1941 and December 31, 1946, and have lived in Muskegon County at some time.

Similar to Mullally's work, MLive Muskegon Chronicle is profiling World War II veterans in the Michigan Honors project that seeks to document and tell some of the stories of the living World War II veterans in Michigan.

Mullally said limiting the scope of his project was a decision he had to make early on, when there was a request for him to get involved in chronicling Ottawa County veterans as well.

"I realized right away, you must have a limit, and you cannot break that limit," he said.

Mullally profiles deceased veterans from their records as well as those he's able to interview personally, searching newspaper clippings and phone books for records of the veterans. He carries a binder full of photos of the veterans to show people his work – and occasionally has been able to collect information on a veteran in that way.

The stories he's collected sometimes border on absurd. For instance, the one about the serviceman's mother who called his commanding officer after her son fell behind writing letters.

Muskegon's high percentage of recruits, besides its industrial contribution through its foundries and factories, meant that "Muskegon was one of the big influences in the war," Mullally said.

He's sharing some of his information with the Lakeshore Museum Center and also is collaborating on a website to share the work he's done.

Mullally has talked to about 850 of the veterans personally, but opportunities for such interviews are trailing off. He said only about 500 World War II veterans in Muskegon County are still alive.

Mullally, 68, thinks it's unlikely he'll finish the work -- there are roughly 17,000 veterans yet to be profiled – but he keeps chipping away at a list of names.

"I'm trying to give a tribute to all these people," he said.

To contact Mullally with information about a veteran, call him at 231-744-3418 or email at remull@gmail.com.